MONTEVALLO, Alabama -- After a lackluster response to its
initial solicitation, the group overseeing development of the former Alabama
Coach building is accepting options beyond a company to lease the
facility for a restaurant purpose.

The Montevallo Development Cooperative District on
Wednesday released a new request for proposal from interested parties that
extends the deadline for submissions to March 1.

A significant change in the process is the group is
considering a purchase option for the building as well as other uses besides a
restaurant. The group maintains it would prefer a restaurant "that offers
quality food, beverage and services," but other submitted proposals would need
to meet its goals for the property.

The district's board is holding a meeting at 4 p.m. on
Monday at the Parnell Memorial Library in Montevallo.

The cooperative district consisting of Shelby County
government, the University of Montevallo and the City of Montevallo has been
searching for a restaurant to fill the vacant building at
the corner of Main and North Boundary streets.

The building is part of the new promenade streetscape
project connecting the university campus to Orr Park through the city's
downtown area.

The group initially released a request for proposal
concerning the building on Nov. 5 but decided at its meeting on Dec. 11 to
revise the process. The board cited the request's arrival during the holiday
season as creating "unnecessary difficulties" for potential proprietors,
according to the addendum document released Wednesday.

The board has extended the deadline as well as reduced the
amount of documentation needed for the proposal. Under the new process, interested
parties have the ability to enter into a multiyear lease for the building or
make an offer to purchase the property.

"The MCDC Board is interested in meeting directly with
interested parties to allow them to make formal presentations to the Board to describe
their business concepts and to allow the Board to ask questions," according to
the addendum document.

A decision by the board should arrive sometime in the
spring or summer, according to the updated proposal process.

The board will schedule tours of the building upon
request from applicants. Presentations by prospective proprietors will be
decided at a later date.

A written statement of interest is due no later than
March 1 to David Hunke at Shelby County Department of Development Services,
1123 County Services Drive, Pelham, AL 35124 or by e-mail to dhunke@shelbyal.com.

For more information, contact Hunke by e-mail or phone at
(205) 620-6651.